• The premier fast bowler unlikely to recover from back injury sustained last week
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was yesterday ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia starting later this month with a back injury, the country’s cricket board said.
“The BCCI Medical team has ruled out Team India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad. The decision was taken following a detailed assessment and in consultation with the specialists,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India said.
“The BCCI will be naming a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah in the squad for the marquee tournament soon,” the BCCI statement said.
Bumrah, 28, had already been forced out of the ongoing T20 series against South Africa after he complained of back pain ahead of the opening match.
It is a second injury blow for heavyweights India, who begin their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23 in Melbourne.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja failed to make the squad due to a knee injury that made him pull out of the Asia Cup midway through the tournament.
The Indian bowling has lacked steam in the final overs of the T20 format and the side have failed to win a multi-nation competition since their 2013 Champions Trophy triumph.
They missed making the semi-finals of last year’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in a lacklustre campaign that included a 10-wicket thrashing by Pakistan.
Last month they were again beaten by Pakistan as well as by eventual championship winners Sri Lanka in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup.
Bumrah has played 30 Tests, 72 ODIs and 60 T20Is for India since making his international debut in January 2016, and is the world number four among Test bowlers in the international rankings.
In white ball cricket he is known as a yorker specialist for his ability to bowl the toe-crushing deliveries in the closing overs but in recent matches has not been at his best.
India are in Group 2 at the T20 World Cup, along with Pakistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, and two teams that progress from the qualifying round. The side led by Rohit Sharma is looking to make a strong comeback at this year’s event.
The squad is expected to fly to Perth on October 6 for a week-long conditioning camp, including a practice game against Western Australia.
They will then take on New Zealand and Australia in two warm-up fixtures prior to their World Cup opener on Oct 23.
India World Cup squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, B Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh Reserve players: Mohamed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar
